During the early 1930s in Chicago, the transcontinental train, Flying Pussyfoot, is starting its
legendary journey that will leave a trail of blood all over the country. At the same time in New York,
the ambitious scientist Szilard and his unwilling aide Ennis, are looking for missing bottles of the
immortality elixir. In addition, a war between the mafia groups is getting worse. On board the Advena
Avis, in 1711, alchemists are about to learn the price of immortality.
Based on the award winning light novels of the same name, this anime adaptation follows several events
that initially seem unrelated, both in time and place, but are part of a much bigger story—one
of alchemy, survival and immortality. Merging these events together are the kindhearted would-be
thieves, Isaac and Miria, connecting various people, all of them with their own hidden ambitions and
agendas, and creating lifelong bonds and consequences for everyone involved.
(Source: MAL Rewrite)
There are few things quite like Baccano. Or rather, Baccano is like many things combined together in a ridiculous gory romp. Baccano is perhaps best described as Highlander meets The Godfather plus a battle royal on a train as directed by Quentin Tarantino. The basic plot is such: there is a newspaper in New York compiling the events surrounding a group of immortals. After a brief meta discussion on stories and protagonists, the show simultaneously launches into three separate but connected stories in 1930, 1931, and 1932, starting near the end of each of the stories and then jumping around between them until the end. The 1930 story deals with Szilard Quates and his Old Men Club recreating the elixir of immortality, and said elixir consequently accidentally falling into the hands of seemingly every mafia member in New York. The 1931 story covers the debacle on the transcontinental express, the Flying Pussyfoot (go ahead, get your jokes out of the way), in which a cult, a mafia family, a gang of bootleggers, and a mysterious being known only as the Rail Tracer all collide on the same train. Also, there are immortals in the mix. The 1932 story follows Eve Genoard as she searches for her missing brother Dallas. This is generally considered the least interesting of the three stories, though admittedly the other two set the bar pretty high. Baccano's non-linear storytelling is a bit hard to wrap your mind around at first. Keeping track of three separate storylines, especially when those stories themselves are told in nonlinear fashion, is slightly taxing, and a rewatch almost becomes necessary if you want to understand everything that's going on. However, the story is still able to stay engaging and fun, and due to the nature of the series, the added chaos potentially even adds to the fun. Baccano is absolutely ridiculous and embraces its zaniness fully. It takes an almost childlike glee in excessive violence, and loves throwing multiple unallied factions into the fray to make everything just a little more complicated and unpredictable. The show spoils many things from the get-go, such as which characters survive and/or become immortal, but the ride to reaching that point is so hectic that it's like the show has handed you a puzzle that has an image of a bunch of men sitting around playing cards, but when you actually start working on the puzzle it turns out that you're actually trying to reassemble Dogs Playing Poker. This wildness ends up working to Baccano's advantage, as it keeps any character or story from being in the spotlight for too long and gives the sense of the stories being connected despite covering different events--which ties wonderfully into the metanarrative that the newspaper staff provides. There are no starting points to stories, there are no ending points, and there are no main characters. Everyone is the hero of their own stories, which are affected by events that happened before their births and can affect events after their deaths. On that note, perhaps the biggest appeal of Baccano is the characters. Almost every character is fun and entertaining. There's the book dumb, hotheaded young Firo Prochainezo, who becomes a rising star in the mafia. There's the psychopathic manchild Ladd Russo. There's Jacuzzi Splott, who is named Jacuzzi Splott. And, of course, the airheaded thieves Isaac and Miria, who manage to tie all the stories together but seem to be largely unaware of the greater plot going on around them. The result is that Baccano has the greatest ensemble cast I've ever seen. No one is truly a main character (Isaac and Miria probably get the most screentime but are certainly not the protagonists), and few characters really slip through the cracks. In fact, the episodes are divided more by character than they are by event, each episode announcing who it's choosing to focus on with titles like "Ladd Russo Enjoys Talking A Lot and Slaughtering A Lot" and "Isaac and Miria Unintentionally Spread Happiness Around Them." In addition, the English dub is worth mentioning. This is one of the more lauded dubs in the industry. So many of the actors are able to capture the energy of Baccano wonderfully (Jerry Jewell as Claire Stanfield is about the only performance of his I've seen that isn't completely dialed in), and the actual New York accents help add to the setting. I have not actually heard the original Japanese performance so I'm not sure how it compares, but it is certainly a dub worth your time. Overall, Baccano is just plain old stupid fun, and it knows exactly how to be plain old stupid fun on a fundamental level. The characters and situation lend themselves to its particular type of style perfectly, so it never feels like it's trying too hard to be entertaining. In addition, the metanarrative provides some nice commentary on the nature of storytelling and, with the inclusion of the OVAs, ultimately brings the story full circle. I would recommend Baccano for just about everyone, even those who wouldn't normally give a series in this genre a try. It's admittedly a bit confusing, but not to the point of being a turnoff. If you're against violent series or can't stand action in general, you might want to skip this one, but if you like action, non-linear narratives, battle royals, fun characters, 1930's American settings, or anything else I mentioned, this is one you won't want to miss. And if you're considering watching its cousin series Durarara, please, consider watching Baccano first. Five stars.
Anachronic storytelling. This narrative is a highly confusing, yet if you use it correctly, can be a highly successful way to tell a story. Baccano! is an anime that decided to use this narrative and does it right. An anime adaptation of the light novel of the same name by Ryogo Narita, who is the brains behind the famous Durarara!!, Baccano tells a complex story about alchemists, delinquents, survival, immortality and many more. An aspect of the show that I like the most is the plot. Baccano's plot is, suffice to say, is very hard to describe as it flip-flops between multiple time periods; the most prominent being 1930, 1931, and 1932. It tells several events relating to alchemists, immortality, a ride in the train, and the investigation of a certain missing person in a family. These events are unrelated to each other, and can be very confusing to viewers and make them wonder 'what the hell is going on?' Fortunately, this is where Baccano's greatest strength lies on. Despite the events being unrelated to each others at first glance, they always had an aspect that connects them with one another. By the time it ends, everything makes sense with very scarce amount of plot holes behind. Baccano carries over a large cast of characters, which makes you wonder if the staff can develop all of them in a short amount of time. But, the good news is... They succeeded on the most part. A majority of the characters has their own traits which make them distinguishable from the others and their own way of talking and acting, which prevents them from being cardboard cutouts. Due to their distinctive traits, it's pretty easy to pick up a favorite. Baccano however had one flaw in the character department; having a huge cast of characters in only 13 episodes, some characters got shafted to the background and don't get much characterization as the other characters, such as the Gandor brothers. This also applies to some other characters such as the Genoard siblings. Brushing that aside however, the rest of the distinctive cast makes up that flaw. The visuals are good. The colors used in the show fits to the vintage 1930s American style of the series. Though I felt that sometimes the art gets a bit... Sketchy, to say at least. The animation is top-notch-- as expected of Brain's Base. Movements are nicely animated and I can see that the characters move. As for the OST, I like the jazzy and classic tunes that the show used; it really gave vintage and classical feels. The voice work is pretty good; the seiyuus fit to each of their roles, and I enjoyed Isaac's seiyuu's performance in delivering a silly character the most, as well as the acting of Jacuzzi's VA; he delivers a nice portrayal of a 'crybaby' character. End of the note, despite the praise I give to this show, I must admit that this this show is not for everyone, due to the high amount of violence and the fact that its extraordinary way of storytelling can get very confusing to some viewers. However, if you either enjoy or don't mind anachronic storytelling on the other hand, then I highly recommend this show; it's worth the watch. __SCORING LIST__ Overall: 8/10 Story: 9/10 (Highly complex and scarce of plot holes) Art and Animation: 7.5/10 (Great animation, mostly good art and use of colors) Sound: 8/10 (The classical jazz OST suits to the show) Characters: 7/10 (Many are memorable and likable although some lack significant characterization) Enjoyment: 8/10 (I highly enjoyed this)
##Welcome to Zefir's Abridged Reviews, episode 1 (and hopefully not the last): in which I talk about _BACCANO!_ ~~~I will be short: Baccano! is awesome. Ok, that's _waaay_ too short.~~~ Based on a ononymous light novel, it's a very refreshing experience if you're looking for something quite different from the rest. A fair warning though: as far as I know during the production the novel was still running (and I remember I was _preeetty_ miffed about this), so it doesn't cover all of the story. It's still very enjoyable, and while it was made with a second season in mind it doesn't really need one in order to feel complete. (While the same can't be said about other series, you know which ones. >->) With its jazzy and cool atmosphere, dark setting and very entertaining plot it's really one of a kind. Think alchemists, in a secret plot over the centuries with a focus on the Roaring Twenties. All of this with a very _pulp noir_ feeling to it and memorabile characters. Don't get confused if you feel like you're missing something at first, as there are frequent skips in the anachonistic narration and continuous changes of POV, so you may be able to connect all the pieces only when you're nearing the end. One may says it's actually one of the strong points of this series. I wont spoil anymore, I don't want to ruin your fun if you haven't seen this yet. Also apparently the english dub is __*awesome*__ (not that I would know, having seen it subbed but still). While I would give it an heartfelt tenouttaten, I recognize it has it's faults (unfortunately it is not as fresh in my mind as I woukd like, so I can't be very accurate, my apologies).
_“Don't let nobody tell you there's no future in a life of crime, because some rackets can last forever. But we'll get around to all that immortality jazz later. A mafia turf war is raging on the mean streets of the Big Apple, a place where regular joes bounce between backdoor booze joints and the breadline. But this caper ain't about a simple gangland brawl. It's about hoods who can't seem to die proper after catching a bullet or five between the eyes. Sadistic hit-men and the dames they love, mad bombers going boom, monsters going bump and soul sucking alchemists bootlegging an elixir of eternal life. Just remember, Baccano! ain't about beginnings and ends. It's about the twists and turns, bub. Paths don't cross in this story - They collide. Every Dick and Jane plays the lead and it's gonna be a bumpy ride.”_ A few years ago, before I became enlightened and engrossed by anime in general, I would have said that for a show or film to be good it needed to have a linear narrative that was both intriguing and well-executed, good character development, and an ending that tied everything up nicely that the audience could all understand and enjoy. Fast forward to today, and I sit here wondering how I was so foolish and simple-minded back then; ignorant of other methods that stories could be told. Overtime those beliefs I had about what fundamentally makes a show good were challenged and proven wrong as I started watching more anime, but no other anime had an influence on these thoughts more so than Baccano. Because Baccano had almost none of those initial beliefs, yet was praised by so many anime fans. So, I watched it, and what Baccano did was it took those beliefs, and shredded them till they were unrecognizable, splattering them with animated blood before burying them six feet into the ground. Yes, it is that good. Baccano is a 2007 anime adaptation of a series of light novels, made by Studio Brain’s Base who were behind the making for shows such as Durarara!!, Blood Lad and the Natsume’s Book of Friends series. Baccano is made up of 13 episodes (16 including the OVAs) and revolves around alchemists who have learned the secrets of and gained the power of immortality… but the show is about a New York turf war between rival Mafia families… as well as a group of madmen who hijack a train… and it also includes a girl searching for her lost brother. As you can see, Baccano is not your average run-of-the-mill anime. Baccano is made up of numerous plots that are crammed into 13 episodes and the show bounces between these different storylines taking place at different times and places. It is told in a non-sequential style and because of this, one could easily imagine this show turning out as a massive clusterfuck. Thankfully, Baccano is clearly no clusterfuck; all the individual stories told intertwine to create a larger, overarching story. And the way Baccano juggles both the characters and subplots matches the ridiculous tone and energy of each of these arcs, leaving us with an insane, mental and downright fun show that is as well-written as it is enjoyable. With how much is going on in Baccano, between all the plot line the premise throws at you and the scattered timelines, it would not be difficult to see how this can make the show difficult to follow and understand or even want to give the show a try at all. However, to counteract these issues one might initially have, Baccano’s first episode is used as a guide to help viewers comprehend what the show is all about. The first episode looks at two characters who are looking at the different storylines that take place within the show, acting as both an introduction and a spoiler to each storyline as it practically tells you how each one ends. They show initially how the overarching story looks to outsiders under first impressions; a clusterfuck, full of action, black comedy and violence that are all pretty entertaining on their own, but are meant to entice one how such a clusterfuck ever happened. Looking at this deeper, the first episode is used as a means to challenge conventions through most stories are told, questioning why audiences should believe that the beginning of a story should take place at the beginning of the timeline. It is after the first episode where the show unravels the initial mess shown at first into the numerous plot threads and characters Baccano contains. And overtime, common plot threads emerge and confusing pieces to the puzzle come and fit together to tell the eccentric masterpiece that is truly what Baccano is. Baccano is usually known as the Pulp Fiction of anime and it is clear why. Both have non-linear narratives that exude this essence of coolness about them, all while being packed with dark humour, violence, guns, blood, wit, grit, slick dialogue and more that make these kinds of shows break the mould and stand apart from every other story told. One could think of the show as a 4-hour flick directed by Tarantino; it’s a good time. It’s filled with many references, cinematography and directing techniques you would have commonly found in the West before the turn of the millennium. In fact, Baccano overall feels more American than Japanese, and for someone like myself, who has watched many Western works throughout my life, this show is definitely one of the more relatable works in the anime industry. It’s actually surprising to me that to my knowledge the West has not even attempted to adapt Baccano into a live-action TV show or a series of films. Oh well, this is already great as it is. Another great thing about Baccano it that it has great pacing throughout the entire series. No episode in this show feels like it wasted time that could have been used elsewhere more effectively or that it should not have been made in general. Everything that happens in the show is of crucial importance to the many subplots this show contains. With only 13 episodes that this show originally had to work with, the lack of filler and overall quick pace matches the overarching tone of the show and the unique style of storytelling Baccano has even further. The show is dense, yet continues to be this high-octane ball of fun that is appealing to many diverse types of anime fans. The writing continues to stay tight and fast-paced as opposed to a similar show, Durarara!!, a 24-episode TV series that attempted to recreate what Baccano brings to the table, but ultimately failed to do so due to falling apart in the second half. Baccano is initially 13 episodes long and stayed compact and intricately woven all the way through, with the show being so large and successful, that it was allowed 3 more episodes to follow up on some of the subplots. These are commonly known amongst fans as Baccano Specials, which will be brought up later. If you were to ask someone who has been Baccano what the show’s biggest strengths are, they would probably tell you either it’s non-linear storytelling or cast of characters, and what a great cast this show has. You see, for a show like Baccano, a show full of stories barely connected, that jumps from story to story, it would be difficult to properly establish a main protagonist and it would not make sense to have one in this show. Baccano does away with another common element of conventional storytelling by having no proper main protagonist and instead being composed of over a dozen main characters, where each are given enough focus and development for all to be considered fully fleshed-out. Rarely any show that runs this short is able to pull of such a large cast of characters so well, but Baccano, of course, pulls it off to near perfection. Every aspect these characters have, from their personas to their dialogue are all executed exactly as needed for this show. The cast is a mishmash of all kinds of personalities and tropes found throughout Western entertainment. The only characters that are able to transcend the different arcs in Baccano are Isaac and Miriah, two burglars that are in love with each other. Both are oblivious to a lot of what happens around them and are the comic relief of the series that surprisingly never got old. From the New York turf war is Firo Prochainezo, member of the Martilla family mafia who is incorrectly dubbed the main character initially, due to possessing many traits that make up your average shounen protagonist. There’s also Keith, Berga and Luck Gandor, in charge of the Gandor family mafia. Moving to the Flying Pussyfoot (the name of the train), we have Jacuzzi Splot, who leads a gang that also doubles as bootleggers with girlfriend Nice. Jacuzzi is basically a whiny bitch that develops into a likeable badass by the end. There’s Chane Laforet, a silent assassin who leads a group of men in black suits whose motives are unclear until later in the show. Ennis, a homunculus that has no freedom of thought or emotion until she begins to understand human emotion. Of course there’s Ladd Russo, over-the-top psychopathic hitman of the Russo family mafia that happens to be the common favourite character amongst many Baccano fans and it is not hard to see why, as his love for killing and monologues make him one of the more interesting personalities. There’s also Vino, an assassin who I won’t say any more about due to spoilers. There are many more characters I could mention here, but this should be enough for you to understand that this show is abundant of interesting and likeable personalities. The only character I disliked in this show was Graham Specter as he is more or less a weaker version of Ladd Russo, however he is still entertaining to watch and does become important towards the end of the OVAs so there is no really need to complain. All in all, Baccano gives every main characters depth, a back story and a little bit of flair that makes them all so great! Because there are so many important characters to the overall story of Baccano, putting names to faces can be a difficult task despite the difference in character designs, especially when the show jumps around stories so often. Thankfully the show’s opening renders that problem nearly obsolete. The opening lists of the names of 17 (I think) characters that are considered main characters in the show, which is useful in remembering who some of the characters are when starting an episode. The OP also show characters together as the opening twists and turns its way using clever transition through the cast, sequenced in a way that is as fun and blood-pumping as the actual show is. The insanely catchy jazz tune that is played alongside it matches the scenes so well and makes this opening on of my favourite and one you will never want to skip. Only problem I have with it however is that it gives too much attention to characters that barely matter to the characters, whilst giving next to no introduction to other, more important characters. But other than that, it is excellent. As for the ED, it is nice to listen to but honestly you are probably going to skip it every time to get to the next episode since this show is like a drug. The overall soundtrack continues the vibe the opening gives off, comprised of a number of Western-themed and jazz-inspired tracks to fit both the historical setting and the upbeat tempo the show always has. Probably the best jazz soundtrack in all of anime, second only to Cowboy Bebop. Baccano no Theme in particular is a great track on its own that is played many times throughout the anime and never got dull, being an anime OST that I believe everyone should go out of their way and listen to at some point. The sound of this show overall is just excellent, especially the English dub. Personally, I prefer dub over sub when watching, but also understand that a lot of dubs are terrible. But in the case of Baccano, it is must-watch for the same reasons that Hellsing Ultimate and Cowboy Bebop need to be watched dubbed. All the voice actors give a terrific performance that match the New York setting as well as both enhance and distinguish between the personalities of every main character in the show. The animation for Baccano is like a perfect fit for this show despite being almost a decade old from the time that this is being written. Colour was used very well in this show, from the bleakness of the alley streets of New York to the bright, colourful and lively environment inside with characters as joyous as they are insane, to even the most minute of details on the faces of Ladd Russo’s victims. But the action is where the animation it at its best. Gun shots are authentic, teeth and bone break and fragments flying across the screen, character movements are fast yet fluid and blood splatter is everywhere… it’s great. While there were a couple moments where the animation was off-putting, like with a couple of 3D backgrounds and at times the scene was too dim, overall it is another part where Baccano is fantastic. Regarding the Baccano Specials specifically, these extra episodes picked up on some of the plot lines from the original series that, despite being wrapped up well, were not properly completed helped to further explore these stories and introduce some new characters, whilst further developing other characters that were already established. The specials did not measure up to the quality of the original TV series, with the non-linear storytelling being almost non-existent in these three episodes. However, the cast is still strong and the trouble they get into after the fallout of the TV series is still entertaining, keeping these episodes worth the watch and a nice addition to the franchise in general. These specials also show more cool interactions between characters and clues as to where the stories will go from there. Sadly, those hints are nothing but cliff-hangers as nothing from the light novels was ever animated after the Baccano Specials ended. The anime only covers 4 of the 21 released novels. But the Specials did give some resolution to the anime, conveying how the stories in this show do not necessarily end. While other shows would try and create an ending that brings closure, Baccano just throws these incredible characters into the audience’s faces that makes one want to imagine what would happen to them. While it may not be the ending that most people wanted, it is an ending that suits Baccano, complementing the blurb of this show: ”Baccano ain't about beginnings and ends. It's about the twists and turns, bub.” Baccano is a non-stop action thrill-ride and is a shining example of the kind of exhilarating narratives that anime is capable of. Both the plot and characters are enough to make this show stand out from the crowd, but the way it blends all the craziness that takes place throughout the show so soundly that makes Baccano one of the greats that this medium has to offer. It is a masterpiece of storytelling that proves that pure quality entertainment can be just as influential to viewers as thought-provoking shows with deep themes and messages.
If you're not here to read a full review ill start you off with the summary and my scoring. I'll go into more in depth scoring at the end of the review. Review Summary: A compelling adventure that mixes its supernatural 1920's plot with one of the best ensembles of characters out there. Final Score: 9/10 If you're trying to decide whether you want to watch Baccano or not.. Watch it. Its fantastic. Now if you want a longer explaination of why you should watch it then. Baccano is an experience. Currently I have seen the whole anime + ovas and read the first volume of the light novel. The first thing you're gonna need to know about Baccano is that it doesn't tell its story linearly. It frequently jumps between its three main story arcs to keep you in the dark and build the mystery up. A lot of the time on your first watch you're going to be scratching your head and wondering what the heck is going on, And that's ok! Part of the charm of the anime adaptation of baccano is that experience of getting fed clue after clue of the timeline until everything eventually falls into place. If you don't like the sound of frequent time jumps then you'd probably be best off with the light novels. The light novels tell the story in a mostly linear fashion. The light novel tells the story of the first arc marvelously, but since its not a big part of the overall story the anime puts it on the back burner compared to the meat of the story. The Flying Pussyfoot arc. All giggles aside The Flying Pussyfoot arc is what makes baccano stand out as baccano. Set in the 1920's 3 separate gangs, as well as a bunch of other colorful characters, board a train going cross country. There's a marvelous scene where all three gangs attempt to stick up the same room of people at the same time and the civilians don't know which ones orders to follow. This arc takes up the largest part of the story and the anime adaptation does it almost perfectly. Baccano stars a very large cast of character. It's written by the same author who wrote durarara so if you've seen that you know how hectic the amount of characters can get. While some characters get pushed to the wayside the vast majority of character are fun and interesting. Unlike durarara all the characters add something to the story and way unlike durarara most have satisfying arcs. The obvious stand outs in the cast are isaac and miria, the loveable airheaded couple that give the show its lighthearted feel and provide most of the comedic moments. Finally we'll talk about villains. There's a lot of them to talk about too but two villains really stick out, Slizard quates and The RAIIIIL TRACEEEER. One being an immortal with the thirst for knowledge and the other being a urban legend that murders train passengers. Both make for amazing villains and while the animes adaptation of the first arc is weaker, they do a much better job of portraying Slizard as a villain than in the light novel. All in all Baccano is a fantastic show that deserves all the praise it gets. The show is one of my favorites and I hope everyone who watches it can find the same enjoyment out of it as I did. All I wish is that it would get a second season already I mean come on the light novels have so much more material they could go into why would like make 2 seasons of durarara and not baccano do they have something against baccano I mean what could they....... Final Scores: Music: 9/10 Characters: 10/10 Story: 9/10 Atmosphere: 9/10 Overall Score: 9/10
Review will be broken down like so : - Art - Story - Characters - Overall Enjoyment ~~~ img70%(https://manga.tokyo/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/5a7c48dbb71df.jpg) ~~~ ~~~ #__Story 8.5/10__ ~~~ Baccano! Is a story about mafia families, crime and immortality. I wish i was joking with the immortality part, Baccano looking like FMAB but i digress. Baccano! is a well directed anime with a lot of laughs but dark at the same time. The story takes place in 3 different times 1930,1931,1932. The anime cuts scenes between these 3 years, which can be quite confusing at first but refreshing from the norm of storytelling. So with these 3 years, 3 seemingly separate stories are told but are connected through Isaac and Miria. They are the glue that holds these stories together and we witness the different relationships they have with other characters and how it came to be. You may think that this spoils a lot of the content ahead of the anime but i assure you, most of these shots are taken out of context and referenced later. The story is told in a way where you wouldn’t understand anything because most of the time scenes are not shot chronologically. For some this may seem pretentious or confusing and drop it. However, nothing beats the feeling of discovering something new and understanding how it fits into the bigger picture. For every episode you watch you are constantly referring back to previous episodes and going “OHHHH” when you realize a plot point. Personally I enjoy it because I feel like I'm not just mindlessly watching something but am actively involved with the story and it’s direction. However, this becomes a problem. If you do not watch this continuously or take long breaks between episodes, I believe it would be jarring and confusing when you only have rough memory from the previous episodes. I strongly recommend that this to be watched in 1 sitting or daily. With the 3 stories, I felt that the Szilard and the mafia was the weakest. He is made out to be this over ambitious alchemist but i feel that is downplayed with the comedy and i can’t help but not take him seriously. I feel like he wasn’t that threatening of a villain. This brings me to my next point : comedy and dark tones. The anime does a great job at mixing dark moments of the show along with comedy. However, I feel like they do succeed at being able to switch from one to another. The anime occasionally trips on it’s own foot at certain moments and downplays the consequences. Although this isn’t a major issue, it didn’t affect my enjoyment. I may be reaching for this one but i kinda believe it’s a parody to those stereotypical evil scientists which actually makes it quite humorous. Overall, the story is captivating, unique and very involved with the viewers and i thoroughly enjoyed watching this piece of anime. ~~~ #__Art 8/10__ ~~~ I think it definitely has great art, but if I'm being honest, it definitely is not a very unique art style, it's your run of the mill anime art. However, I don't believe that in order for art to be exceptionally good, it has to be different. It does it’s job very well and is what people would identify as anime. Character design wise, they’re pretty solid. I think the stand out in terms of character design is definitely Jacuzzi Splot. He has this cool tattoo that covers half of his face which kinda makes him look cool despite his personality. The background art in this anime is absolutely gorgeous but don’t get a lot of screen time since a lot of the show takes place indoors or narrow alleyways. Overall, the art is splendid and gets the job done. ~~~ #__Animation 10/10__ ~~~ The animation in this anime is really good. Like absolutely fantastic. I feel like there weren’t any budget cuts and every episode feels like it’s animated consistently with no cheap short cuts. Just look at the gifs below: img49%(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/689396684669603237/48D27A145FD3381C8ECD44B3FF3B9025166D3407/) img50%(https://media1.tenor.com/images/e36d29efc98cf272e216b22172b619e7/tenor.gif?itemid=11864409) Motion is perfectly captured, action sequences are beautifully choreographed. With the gif on the right showcasing beautiful action and smooth transitions between shots. Notice how his hat moves fluidly with everything going on. It feels real. The gif the right showcases how mad Ladd Russo is but look at how they make his celebration look insane like no sane person would jump for joy the way Russo has. The animation team behind this at Brain’s Base really knocked it out of the park. I actually thought i was watching a Bones/Madhouse anime with the quality of their animations. I believe this is my first Brain’s Base anime, and i’m really shocked by the quality of this show. Overall really good animation, no complaints whatsoever. ~~~ #__Characters 8.5/10__ ~~~ The characters in this show are splendid with some weak links. The strong characters come in the form of Firo and the mafia guys, Isaac and Miria and the Russo family. For Isaac and Miria they are robbers with a weird taste in things they rob. They're a great dynamic duo and brought me the most laughs throughout the anime. Isaac and Miria have a very wholesome relationship of robbery. They’re a wild card throughout this journey, moving and acting on their own pace, unaffected by what most people are doing. They become lovable from the joy they bring and how they affects other characters I really liked the Firo and the Mafia, the characters here are pretty cool and are quite realistic in how they behave being part of the Mafia. The Mafia guys are not bad guys but are not exactly good guys, they kind of help the needy but commit brutal and merciless crimes against their enemies. Ladd Russo, what a lad (get it?). Absolutely insane lad who’s a merciless assassin just looking for some good action. This may seem like he’s one dimensional but the lad actually has some heart in him and you actually see this part of him without it being explained. It’s beautiful visual storytelling in how he acts. He;s a caring dude in a really messed up way but that’s what makes him lovable There are some weak characters like Eve and Dallas. I really didn’t understand what they were trying to do with their characters. Like i get how Eve loves and misses his sister but i don’t get why they are essential casts. I mentioned previously how Isaac and Miria affect most of the different stories in anime. Isaac and Miria only met once. The Eve and Dallas story felt forced. Honestly, I forget them and still remember all the important points of the story. ~~~ #__Sound/Voice Acting 8.5/10__ ~~~ The OP gave me serious Cowboy Bebop vibes in not just the music but the way they introduce the characters by freeze framing and writing their names. It felt so oddly nostalgic and I absolutely loved how groovy it felt and it was a splendid opening. However, I felt that the ED didn’t capture what Baccano was about and felt forced in a sense that it was really sad. Baccano isn’t a really sad or emotionally inflicting anime so I really didn’t understand the song choice. The OST felt like the OP, Cowboy Bebop-ish. But where Bebop thrived in using their groovy OST, Baccano failed in, because it sounded so good yet they didn’t utilise it enough. You only hear it a handful of times and it’s such a missed opportunity to bring more character to the anime, it’s a shame really. Nevertheless i thoroughly enjoyed those moments when it was playing. Voice acting was pretty great, especially Keiji Fujiwara’s, performance on Ladd Russo (Rest in Peace). He usually plays the good guy so hearing him as an antagonist was a first for me.Keiji-san definitely has range, I never thought he could sound so insane after getting used to his voices in Kimura (Hajime no Ippo), Maes Hughes (FMAB) and Leorio Paladiknight. I really enjoyed his performance on the Ladd Russo, what a lad (okay i’ll stop) Sound and Voice acting was very well done and have no real qualms with it. ~~~ #__Overall Enjoyment 9.5/10 and Miscellaneous Things__ ~~~ Overall Ithoroughly enjoyed Baccano, it was a superb anime with good visuals and has a unique way of telling its story. The cast of characters kept me captivated in what they will do next. Initially with episode 1 i really didn’t like how it started (maybe because i watched episode 1 late at night after a long day of working), i was so confused watching it. It felt so random and spontaneous but i was pleasantly surprised after watching more and more episodes. Every episode felt rewarding. ~~~ __Story: 8.5/10__ __Art: 8/10__ __Animation: 10/10__ __Characters: 8.5/10__ __Soundtrack: 8.5/10__ __Overall Enjoyment: 9/10 __ ~~~
~~~I originally wrote a much longer review for Baccano! back in 2019 on MAL, but here's an edited and far more organised review, because I’m forever eager to talk about my favourite anime to anyone who’ll listen. Also, this is my first review posted to Anilist, so I’m very excited to share my thoughts with everyone. __This review is spoiler free!__ I'm going to break everything down into sections to keep my thoughts organised. img400(https://64.media.tumblr.com/7c4b138f0531096d1bbfa165538dc366/tumblr_oqbcubGeNj1u7gyjmo5_540.gifv) __Story/Characters__ Baccano! has a non-linear approach to story-telling, the narrative primarily, but not exclusively, takes place in the years 1930, 1931 and 1932 (with episode 7, which takes place in 1711, being the most notable exception to this) and it follows a plethora of characters whose stories are all connected in one way or another. The world of Baccano! is gory, action-packed, charismatic, heartfelt and hilarious. It’s a world that lives and breathes for the characters that occupy it (but more on them in a moment). Baccano!’s story is one that rewards keen-eyed and patient viewers, the more you pick up on whilst watching this series, the more everything fits together like a jigsaw puzzle, and watching it all unfold is one of the most satisfying and unique experiences I’ve ever had whilst watching any anime. This is a show that holds its cards incredibly close to its chest, and one of the reasons I’m so captivated by it is the sheer amount of rewatch value this short, thirteen-episode anime has— no matter how many times I go back to this show, it never loses its charm, and it always has something new to offer that I hadn’t picked up on during my last watch. __But what’s Baccano! actually about?__ A train heist, the mafia, knife-fights, robbers, bootleggers, immortals and hitmen, but above all else: Baccano! is about how people affect one another. It’s about how everyone is the protagonist of their own story, and how events can alter depending on the perspective you’re viewing them from. To quote the show itself: >“Cast aside the illusion that there is a beginning and an end to the story. The story has no beginning. and it has no end. All there is, is a performance of people connecting, living, influencing each other, and departing.” I’ve placed both character and story in the same category because it’s impossible to talk about one without the other, Baccano! is less a “story” and more a sequence of scenes and unfolding mysteries loosely connected by the interactions that the show’s large cast have with one another. Baccano! has a lot of characters, however, it never once makes it a challenge to remember them all, due in part to the opening listing each one at the beginning of every episode, but also due to the fact that they’re all so memorable and vibrant. From the impulsive, charismatic Firo Prochainezo, to the violent, stand-offish Ladd Russo, to the timid yet brave Jacuzzi Splot, each and every character in Baccano! has a well-defined personality, and a clear part to play in the large, expansive story. Regardless of what kind of character you gravitate towards, I guarantee that there’s at least one member of the Baccano! cast you’ll come away liking. I could write a novel on the characters of this show, but I’m already over 500 words in, so let’s move on to the shorter sections of this review. img400(https://64.media.tumblr.com/63e123b651e22f8e81cd78af0552f6ca/tumblr_oqbcubGeNj1u7gyjmo3_500.gifv) __Art/Animation__ Despite the fact that Baccano! came out thirteen years ago, the art and animation both hold up incredibly well. Of course, it would be immensely unfair to compare an anime released over a decade ago by the standards of animation set today, however, the animation does a very good job of bringing Enami Katsumi’s fantastic character designs to life, and equally does well in bringing to life the time period in which Baccano! is set. There is some really good-looking background art in Baccano!, along with some inventive shots, and the fight scenes are well-choreographed, fast-paced and all have a very energetic feel to them that makes them very lively and fun to watch. However, the main cause of the upbeat, downright __infectious__ energy that Baccano!'s overrun with, is the show’s fantastic soundtrack— so let's move on to that... img400(https://64.media.tumblr.com/7d609ff9f5c6c9f9b3e7398ba5b0f99a/636fbaa8d934c11f-5b/s540x810/5aa66209a92de1aa44562e07bdf205244a440509.gifv) __Music/Voice Acting__ The Baccano! OST is one of my favourite soundtracks ever, and it’s only through extreme will power that I’m approaching this section of my review without outright gushing over the music in this show. Nothing sets the tone in Baccano! better than its OST, each and every piece of music radiates so much style and they all come together to become a fantastic mood-setter. Everything (music-wise) from the animated jazz tunes that play during scenes with the mafia, to the piano-heavy tracks that aid in building tension during the murder mystery aboard the train, is expertly composed and incredibly fitting. Now's as good a time as any to bring up Baccano!'s opening song "Gun’s & Roses"— the visuals in Baccano!’s opening are great in and of themselves, but it's the fantastic piece of music to which these visuals are set that truly, in my opinion, encompass everything this anime is about. To call Gun’s & Roses "energetic" is to state that the sky is blue; it's incredibly hard to not feel hyped up when this song is playing and it’s the perfect introduction to the crazy ride Baccano! takes you on each and every single episode. So, I don’t have a good segue to take us to my final topic, but I’d like to round off this review by discussing the voice acting in Baccano! __Disclaimer:__ I primarily watch anime subtitled, Baccano! is one of the only exceptions to this rule. I've seen both the sub and dub of Baccano! multiple times, and I return to the dub more often than I do the sub, as I consider the Baccano! dub to be one of the absolute best. The English voice cast, for the most part, bring their A game, with my personal favourite performance coming from Bryan Massey as Ladd Russo. __I would really advise giving the Baccano! dub a shot, even if you see yourself as more of a subtitle person.__ img400(https://64.media.tumblr.com/54bd0bb92aa18f5e400d2983049ae3d6/tumblr_oqbcubGeNj1u7gyjmo4_500.gifv) >“What we report is neither unaffected information nor perceived information. It’s the precursor to a conclusion.” __Final Thoughts__ Hopefully this wasn’t too long winded and boring to read through. I still feel as though I've failed to convey even a fraction of why I call this my favourite anime of all time, and perhaps I'll never be able to fully express my love for it in words, however, if this review convinces even one person to give this show a try then I'm glad of it. Baccano! isn’t a show for everyone; if you’re looking for an easy watch (something to stick on in the background and switch your brain off to) then you may still find something in Baccano! to enjoy. However, Baccano! is first and foremost a show that's best viewed with an open-mind and close-attention, as, like I stated at the beginning of this review, the results of watching this show with a keen-eye are incredibly rewarding. __TLDR;__ Baccano!'s a show with insane levels of charm, it’s incredibly fun to watch, it’s got a tightly-written plot, fantastic voice-cast, stellar OST, a cast of very entertaining characters and a large amount of genuine heart and care behind it. I can’t recommend this truly unique little gem of a show enough. img400(https://64.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6wg0aWcnP1r4gmj5o7_500.gifv) Thank you for sticking with me for this long, and, if you do decide to watch Baccano!, then I hope you find as much enjoyment in it as I did (and still do!)~~~
__Spoiler warning for the entire series.__ # Diverging Plot Tracks Baccano! sets the tone and characters perfectly from the beginning. The choice to start by revealing all the characters and showing the mysterious circumstances they have ended up in sounds like it would remove the tension at first. However it was a one that benefits the plot greatly. Instead of relying on a weak twist later, we get to see the events that lead up to these events. Soon, the three interlocking stories are established. The 1931 story of the Flying Pussyfoot is strong throughout, with the rail tracer being a scarily powerful being that creates some exciting moments of recklessness and bravery in the characters. The visually pleasing action around the train creates a great atmosphere and gives it a lot of energy. I especially liked the battle between Jacuzzi and Goose. The pacing suffers however when it comes to the next plotlines. The 1930 elixir story becomes compelling after seeing the strange resurrections of Luck and Firo, but they are seemingly put on the backburner as for the next few episodes we are shown a much less interesting backstory of a wild goose chase around the city to find the elixir. It's not until episode 7 when we receive a massive info dump about Maiza and the immortals with little foreshadowing, which is a little jarring. I feel like it should've had more foreshadowing as to how important the stakes really are, however it does make up for a lot of this with a strong focus in the second half. Quates is also a serviceable villain despite info not being known about him until later, and it's clear to see how his obsession with knowledge drives him mad. Even weaker is the third story, about Eve's search for her brother Dallas in 1932. Dallas rarely seems like a complex character, is more of an unlikable and sadistic goon for a lot of his scenes. Eve's character is solely driven by finding him however, and it's hard for me to connect with her when it seems the only reason she has to find him is because they are related. This is not only the sole driver of Eve but the entire plotline, with little connection to the other two. It also ends in a disappointing fashion and kind of bleakly as Dallas has been forced to live out his life in a barrel at the bottom of the Hudson River by the Gandors. Despite Dallas being unlikable this is pretty depressing and considering we spent a large portion of the series watch Eve look for him, it's a very low impact conclusion to this arc. The show has a strong conclusion, as it feels satisfying to see the immortals come to terms with the past and move towards the future. It's a bit strange that being immortal goes from something considered to be a bit of a cursed existence to something the characters celebrate, but it's satisfying enough for dramatic purposes. Overall the plot is pretty thrilling, and I rarely felt bored or like it was going nowhere even when that is what ended up happening sometimes. #The Passengers of Baccano! Right off the exciting opening, I knew the characters would a strong focus and they didn't disappoint. Isaac and Miria would be the standouts for me. They seem obnoxious at first but seeing how their ridiculous attitudes towards helping people pan out is satisfying. It was cool to see them as immortals and it seems fitting that they perform these silly acts throughout history like some sort of omnipotents. It's a nice showing of how something as simple as spreading absurd joy can inspire and change others like Jacuzzi and Ennis. Speaking of Jacuzzi, him and Nice are also incredibly likable and their relationship is cute. Jacuzzi finding reason to defend his loved ones is especially inspiring. Czeslaw has realistic motives for being scared of immortals and it has a logical conclusion with him coming to find real family. The relationships between Ennis and Firo, and Chane and Claire are a little rushed and the latter two characters still make me question their motives and what their arcs really are. My problems with Eve and Dallas are the same as previously mentioned. I also wish the Gandor brothers were not given so much attention at first because of the weak characterization they ended up having. Ladd Russo greatly annoyed me at first but it was satisfying to see him show a real love for Lua and jumping off the train to save her (he may have concealed it under wanting to kill her but it's obvious he wants to protect her). It's a little sad to think about how Firo and Ennis will live forever but Jacuzzi and Nice won't, something makes me wish they had either made all of them immortal or none. Finally, as said before, all the immortals had satisfying conclusions especially Maiza and Czeslaw. #Miscellanous - The music in the series is fantastic, especially the opening theme. It's very jazzy and the show has great period vibes as a whole from the music. - All of the animation looked great. The action was super well animated and gory, and the devouring by immortals was creepy and unsettling to make it seem like a really sad fate, which is good. The voice acting was also all excellent and overall it felt pretty high quality. - The setting was simple but pretty enjoyable and having a mystical element added more intrigue to what would normally just be a gangster story. #Summary Despite shitting on the plot a little too much, I genuinely think they did a great job at balancing so many characters and storylines. Seeing how the actions in 1711 affect these characters are fascinating and creates a spiderweb of connections that all satisfyingly conclude. The pacing problems are frustrating though, while they may be inevitable with such a complex story there was a lot of fat that could have been trimmed from the show without much loss to the Train or Elixir storylines. The writing is still interesting with good production clearly being placed in it. The characters are not perfect but the best ones will stick in my head for a while. The intrigue and mystery of the plot was tantalizing and I hope to read the LN to get the full experience and maybe a better conclusion to the story. From what I've read it would seemingly have benefitted from a longer anime series which is saddening. For now I can say the Baccano! anime was an very solid series on it's own, despite some weak writing, that I would recommend for a good mystery/action anime.
Some shows just radiate this powerful air of being insanely cool, and Baccano, with its interweaving mafia storylines tied to urban legends, wacky thieves and the secret of immortality, is definitely one such series that I got this vibe from. It's all of course helped along by the groovy, jazzy soundtrack making even the most brutal of scenes have a more freewheeling, lighthearted vibe to it all without completely negating its more serious elements. It's a careful balancing act for sure, but one that is executed fantastically to set a consistently idiosyncratic and engaging tone that makes it far easier to connect with the sizeable cast of important characters. For me personally though, the element of the show that really stands out to me as something that makes it so engaging is the way its non-linear storytelling is utilised to strengthen the narrative and successfully craft multiple points of intrigue and mystery, almost always leaving the viewer hungry for more. While this narrative could theoretically have been told chronologically, I feel like it would have lost a lot of its appeal, especially with how the constant onslaught of small mysteries this sends forth ends up further tying into other parts of the timeline of the plot. I love the way that this essentially begins at the intense, climactic moment where everything's all going nuts, completely forgoing starting off with a bunch of episodes to establish a lot of concept and move pieces into place for a grand encounter, and instead just throwing the audience into the deep end. It works especially well thanks to the way that usually the elements of piece moving are either made implicit through context clues that get presented, or properly contextualised through a flashback to another point in the story. This ends up making it easy to play on expectations, often using the chance of contextualising choices and events something that redefines the significance of whatever is going down, which is especially notable with the more thematic angle that episode 8 takes with what segments of the story are revealed. My only issue with this is that while this often leads to an absolutely hectic experience where it feels like all hell is breaking loose, with the climactic moments in the narrative usually lining up pretty cleanly, the inverse to this also becomes true. Usually when there's some sense of slower buildup, every focused part of the narrative requires the same treatment, which leads to a pretty inconsistent viewing experience where you'll get some episodes that are absolutely incredible mixed with others that feel like barely anything of note is happening. It's not really a dealbreaker by any means thankfully, and I still love this show however, especially when taking into account the wide array of loveable characters in their own respects, especially Isaac and Miria, who take the idea of being gleefully idiotic to a whole other level without ever being annoying. Really great stuff all around, with the minor pacing issues being pretty easily overlooked in the grand scheme of things.
Baccano is a highly acclaimed anime and you will see a lot of people saying how its confusing story makes perfect sense by the end. If I didn’t see those comments I would have dropped this anime before finishing the first episode. After finishing it, I can say that Baccano’s is told in an incomprehensible and convoluted way for no reason at all. There is no mystery that gets revealed piece by piece, no message, and nothing that would warrant the effort to sit through this anime. #~~~__The Story__~~~ I will start with the first episode since it is one of the worst beginnings I have ever seen. We start with 2 people who will have no impact on the story and don’t show up again except one of them as a voice. They start talking about where we should start the story of Baccano and who the main character should be showing random scenes and spoilers along the way. The dialogue is meaningless, you can literally cut all of the pretentious dialogue between those two and lose nothing. They are just a way for the makers of the show to say “Our story doesn't have a main character and is non-chronological!” as if it is some great achievement on its own. Even if the sheer volume of characters or the non-chronological storytelling had any purpose, anyone can see that they exist without pointing it out. The whole dialogue only serves to waste time. Disregarding the condescending parts about journalism and truth, which literally have no reason for existing besides padding out the episode. Even the parts where they show random parts of the story only serve to confuse and waste time at best. They show that a little child is immortal, which when we get to the scene where he dies drains all the tension out of it. It also makes the latter reveal that the boy was immortal and showing a character's surprise at this incomprehensible. Did they forget what they put in the first episode? The answer is yes if you are wondering. Here is a screenshot to prove that: ~~~img720(https://i.imgur.com/rB05e5L.jpg)~~~ The girl in white with the spear isn’t in the anime nor are some of the background characters, like the girl with the katana. We don’t know where they are, we don’t know what they are doing. This scene doesn’t happen in the anime. We don’t even see this character again. The scene serves no purpose other than to waste time. I guess the people that made the first episode didn’t even bother to watch the rest of the anime or vice versa. This philosophy of being convoluted to achieve nothing but waste time consumes the entire anime. Events are presented in random order for no payoff. There isn’t a mystery and no reason to tell the story in this incomprehensible way. The supernatural elements get explained in the stupidest ways possible that I genuinely believe leaving them unexplained would have been better. Immortality is explained via alchemy, in the same episode we learn that it exists. The train murderer is also revealed to have worked in a circus, which is meant to explain him being able to climb and stick to the outside of a moving train like spiderman. The story when complete is just a string of random events. Why are these people immortal? Because they drank this elixir. How did they get a hold of it? A random guy burned down a building accidentally at just the right time. If it was something so benign what is the point of obfuscating it? # ~~~__Characters__~~~ Characters in this anime do not grow or evolve and can be summed up in a couple of words. Crybaby that is actually super strong, carefree dumb thieves, crazy mob guy that likes to kill, chivalrous mob guy, abused kid, etc. Barely anyone has any personality that extends beyond a character trope, and the thieves don’t even have separate personalities. There is also a massive issue with the “bad guys,” they aren’t any worse than any of the other characters. A character that killed a few people and a guy who killed a few immortals are treated as if they are the scum of the earth and one is tortured. We have seen most characters kill more people on screen than those two did. They just happen to be two that drew the short straw and became the “bad guys.” Like most characters, this is also their entire personality. #~~~__Visuals__~~~ ~~~img720(https://i.imgur.com/Nknzcbz.jpg)~~~ I will only say that if anyone who made this anime cared about it looking decent they wouldn’t have dusted off their PS2 to render nausea-inducing scenes like the one above. Whenever I see something this obviously bad make it into an anime I can be sure that no one cared. If even a single person that cared bothered to watch this anime before shipping it they would have at least rerendered the scene on a PS3 for better fidelity if they insisted on keeping it in for some reason. #~~~__Specials__~~~ The specials are also massive wastes of time. They barely resolve anything and introduce some random guy that shares the “crazy guy that likes to kill” personality and we spend far too much time with. And of course, he isn’t even mentioned once beforehand, since I guess we had more important things to showcase like the girl who never shows up or the comedic duo in a mine for 4 minutes straight. The last episode of the specials has the two idiots from the first episode return and ramble on about how imagining an ending is good so that is why so much is left unresolved. I could agree with it only if they didn’t stick 3 unnecessary episodes to the end of this anime to resolve it but gave up halfway. They could have just left the anime alone and that message would have been clear to anyone that watched it. If they believed that they wouldn't have spent an hour and a half on nonsense then condescend to the audience like they are too dumb to know what an open ending is. #~~~__Conclusion__~~~ There is a decent anime buried in there somewhere but the whole thing is consumed by needlessly convoluted storytelling. Thinking about Baccano and its story while you are watching it is a waste of effort. The only parts I enjoyed were when the comedic duo managed to make me laugh. I wouldn’t recommend this anime to anyone.
*Spoilers* This is my first review on anilist so bear with me. Baccano! Is adored and praised by fans who somehow see past the fact that the show isn't coherent in any way! The first episode is an amalgamation of nothingness, as it starts off with two narrators who would seem to be protagonists, but are actually the ones introducing the cast of MCs. Then, the real MCs are thankfully reintroduced in the next episode’s opening. A train departs from a station somewhere and somehow the entire cast is on that train (unexplained) and a monster also happens to be there. Oh, and you can’t possibly forget the handful of side characters on a boat in the 1700s (the show is set in the 1930s so there is also some sort of unexplained method of time travel involved) who yearn for an immortality elixir for seemingly no explicable reason conveyed in the show. Somehow this all ties into a mafia turf war, and the only characters who make any sense are Isaac and Miria, a pair of crazy but lovable train robbers. My thoughts: The best parts about this show are its OP, final episode, Isaac and Miria. The rest feels like somebody had a cool idea and botched the delivery as the story makes pretty damn close to zero sense and the gimmick where the show repeats the same scene a bunch of times just confuses it more. If you are gonna do a ensemble cast there's a specific way to do it where each main character gets enough screen time so the viewer gets to understand and connect with each character. The issue here lies with all of baccano's unnecessary time skips and achronology as well as the only thirteen episode length, which causes the story to feel so compressed that it becomes the most jumbled story which attempts to go for something amazing and flops. And don't even get me started on the first episode, where they tried to introduce the abundant cast of characters in 25 minutes but in reality just presented a bunch of random, unrelated situations that barely get connected during the story. It boggles my mind how the OP for the show introduces the characters more successfully than the first episode. My most positive thought about the plot and its punch line would be concerning the final episode. I finally started to make sense of some sort of plot by the end, although at that point in the show it was definitely a bit too late for it to make any huge impact in my rating of baccano! as a whole. ratings: story: 5 (one of the least coherent stories I've ever seen - not lower or higher than a 5 because while the first 12 episodes were pretty incomprehensible the final episode made a lot of sense with how they showed the train station scene from episode 1 or 2 and I actually surprisingly enjoyed it) characters: 6 (saved by Isaac and Miria) visuals: 7 (generally no complaints except character designs were all kinda generic and similar) audio: 8 (great jazz op and pretty good ed) enjoyment: 5 thanks so much for reading!
Baccano is one of the most refreshing Anime I have watched in a long time. The entire style just separates itself from traditional anime; from the art, narrative structure, setting, and really the feel of Baccano just do not feel like traditional Japanese anime. And because I watched it in the Dub this foreign sensation just hits so much harder. The baccano dub is by far the best dub I have experienced. But to be honest I only experienced a handful of dubs like _Violet Evergarden, Cowboy Bebop, Yu Yu Hakusho, Trigun, FLCL..._ yea I only seen a handful of animes in dub so passing judgement as the greatest anime dub may be naive. With that said I still think the dub is a-mazing, those English accents really sound like old school 90's English accents. I compared the Japanese and English Dub a handful of times and I must say I am impressed that the English Dub really matched the energy of the Japanese. Most English dub from anime I have watched have really low energy voice actors especially from characters that aren't the main cast. For example in Violet Evergarden, the English VO for most of the main cast are pretty good but there is a huge discrepancy of quality when it comes to the supporting cast which is pretty jarring. Baccano really have an amazing team of English VOs and they are all really good. I never for a second felt a drop in quality for any of the characters. The style of Baccano's narrative structure is something I believe is pretty rare in not only Anime but Asian storytelling. A choppy and messy arrangement of the plot structure is something I experience more in western media, Christopher Nolan being the most prominent Auteur in that regard. Odd taxi is an anime that comes to mind that have a similar non-linear story telling approach. Again maybe I am naive and there is actually plenty of Anime that have this non-linear way of story telling. (Please recommend them to me! Because I love it!) The music choice too is really immersive for the 90's mobster era setting. I love the Jazz inspired sound track that not only play in normal scenes but also in sound effects to emphasize tense moments such as fights or ... _violent moments_ that is really reminiscent of cowboy bebop in some ways. The cast of characters are so varied and entertaining which really spice up the mood every once in a while which makes it really refreshing. At one moment we see a psychopath, the next we see a comic relief bonnie and clyde couple, the next some typical cool mobster guy, and so on... To be honest there is so many things going on in a really chaotic way and I cannot really follow most of the characters but I can say at least they act really consistently in accordance to their personality which is nice. With all the praise Baccano is actually really boring for the first 3-4 episodes. I think its at about episode 5 where I got interested because the same scene was repeated but this time with a different perspective and ok... this is intriguing. Then I am forced to pay attention because the story was presented in 3 separate timelines and ok... this is fascinating as I feel the nerve receptors in my brain click as I am gradually making sense of the chaos in a really challenging yet interesting way. Overall I had a fun time, it was boring at first but it definitely gets better. I like how refreshing the experience was, the narrative style and superb dub makes me feel like I am actually watching a western animation inspired by anime.
__Spoiler Free:__ The title of the show Baccano! means ruckus or chaos in a certain language, and it is executed perfectly throughout the show. The concept of "Six Degrees of Separation" says that any two individuals on Earth can be related to each other through less than or equal to six connections. This show reminds me of that. It covers one event from multiple perspectives and shows how the same event can be perceived differently depending on your point of view and how much of it you are aware of. They show random events happening all over the place throughout the span of three years, and they look completely unrelated at first. But as the show progresses, it manages to string all of these events and the characters in these events together into some sort of cause-and-effect relationship until everything is a giant chaotic mess. Since all the events appear unrelated at first, you probably won't understand anything just by watching the first episode. It is really funny at parts, and the characters don't seem like typical anime characters. They have unique attributes to them. I rewatched this show several times, and every time, I got mesmerized, and 12 episodes passed by in an instant. The opening is designed beautifully, showing all the characters involved in this show along with their names and a banger soundtrack. I am a person who binge-watches anime, and therefore I skip openings, as there is no point in watching an opening again and again on the same hour/day. But this is an opening that I never skipped, and it even helped me follow along with the show better! Another standout aspect of Baccano! is its impressive animation and soundtrack. The animation is fluid and vibrant, with attention paid to even the smallest details. The soundtrack is equally impressive, with a mix of jazz and swing music that perfectly captures the time period and atmosphere of the show. The opening sequence, which introduces the characters with a catchy theme song, is particularly memorable and serves as a perfect introduction to the show. __Spoilers Ahead!__ Baccano! deals with gangs/mafia from a bunch of different factions, along with a highly eccentric pair of main characters Issac and Miria. The main center of the story is the journey on the train named "The Flying Pussyfoot," where all these factions, a journalist, the main cast, and the family of a high-ranking government official are present. All of these people are unaware of the presence/motives of the other members on this train. They all try to further their agendas on this train but face a lot of obstacles as their agendas clash with each other. Issac and Miria, being the eccentric pair that they are, only aggravate the chaos further. On the other hand, this show also has mystical aspects in it as well, such as these people known as "The Immortals." It turns out that a few hundred years ago, there was a cult of people who managed to get their hands on an elixir that, when taken, makes you immortal. It does not make you invincible; however, as soon as you get injured, the body will automatically heal itself no matter how bad the injury is. This means that if your body was torn to shreds, then those shreds will magically fly towards each other and reform your previous state! After discovering this elixir, these people from this cult all consumed it and are in the exact same condition they were hundreds of years back still now. This element of the show was used to great effect, as not many people in this world are aware of these immortals, and each of them is surprised on discovering this in their own way. Also, at the start of the show on the train "The Flying Pussyfoot," there was another comedic scene where Issac and Miria, in their usual eccentric tone, tell you about a scary folk tale of "The Railtracer," which haunts passenger trains. If a train is haunted, then all the passengers on the train go missing. But then they bring on the twist that if this tale is shared with people on a train, then that train is definitely going to get haunted by the "Railtracer." At first, I brushed it off as just a joke but then as the episodes progressed it seemed more and more true. And yes, in the end we find out that this railtracer actually did exist but he was just a wannabe who acted that way to give credibility to this old folklore! Absolutely brilliant! In addition to the complexity of the plot, Baccano! also boasts a unique and memorable cast of characters. Each character has their own quirks and motivations, making them stand out from typical anime character archetypes. Isaac and Miria, for example, are a pair of lovable and eccentric thieves who provide comic relief throughout the series. Firo, the young member of the Martillo mafia family, is a standout character whose loyalty and determination make him a fan favorite. Other notable characters include Ladd Russo, a charismatic and sadistic hitman, and Jacuzzi Splot, a timid gangster with a heart of gold. Overall, Baccano! is an incredibly unique and entertaining anime that is not to be missed. Its non-linear narrative, complex plot, and memorable characters make it a must-watch for fans of the genre. The show is also accessible to viewers who may not typically enjoy anime, thanks to its setting and unique storytelling style. Whether you're a fan of gangster movies, supernatural thrillers, or just great storytelling, Baccano! is definitely worth a watch.
#___~~~A Review on Baccano!___ ~~~ ~~~__(this is my first ever review so please bear with me)__~~~ ~~~img2200(https://discodracula.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/baccano.png)~~~ Baccano! is a story in which events are foretold in a very tarantino-esque manner like the movie Pulp Fiction, but taken to an extreme level that is, the events do not take place chronologically, but rather in a very random and unpredictable order that gradually connects, spanning over years. The word "baccano" itself, is italian which roughly tranlates to "ruckus", which perefectly fits the wild, and rambunctious events that take place. Baccano starts off as an eerie narration but instantly throws us off after a few minutes into the first episode transitioning into a clusterfuck of events which dont make sense at all, but as you watch more you start to understand what baccano! is actually supposed to be. The story takes place across different parts of the US. The plot consists multiple timelines that gradually piece together as the series progresses forming the ammalgamation known as Baccano! First off are the early 1930s timelines which consists the journey of "The Flying Pussyfoot", a transcontinental train which leaves on a henious journey across the US with a crazy set of passengers including gangs, delinquents, robbers, and cultists alike with many other surprises. On the flip side in New York, the ambitious scientist Szilard and his peculiar aide Ennis, are looking for missing bottles of the elixirs. In addition, a war between mafia groups is getting worse. There is also the timeline aboard the ship, Advena Avis on which Alchemists are about to learn the price of trying to gain immortality. The cast of characters that bring Baccano! to life consist from wacky and charming, like the the robber duo of Isaac and Miria, whom spread happiness through their goofy behaiviour and endeavours, the multiple mafia executives from different families such as, Maiza, Luck, Firo, tattoo faced cry baby, Jacuzzi, whom is the leader of a gang, to the straight up murderous, Ladd the hitman, whom basically kills for fun. This set of characters and their companions bring about crazy situations and interactions which proves very entertaining. ~~~ img2200(https://cdn.fanbyte.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Screen-Shot-2019-03-27-at-2.09.33-PM.jpg?x48911)~~~ The animation is pretty darn good for a late 2000s anime. Character designs are great and the action sequences are very well choreographed. If Baccano was in a standard chronological order it still would’ve been good but this achronological way of storytelling takes it to another level. The way Baccano! presents itself like a puzzle that the viewer pieces together is very refreshing and works phenomenally in a setting such as Baccano! My only complaint is that it is very short which might be a good thing but I would've liked to see more of these characters. There is also an OVA which has 3 episodes of extra content for whomever may be looking for it. I highly reccomend everyone to try Baccano! It’s short, snappy and very much binge-able and only 13 episodes! Overall rating 9/10
I still have no idea what the heck a "Baccano" is, lol. [ __be wary of possible spoilers__] What sells Baccano! for me, was its ensemble cast. While there are a handful of forgettable/uninteresting ones that never get enough screentime (Lua for example, despite getting her own title card in the opening while Claire/Vino doesn't), most of them are very damn memorable. Ranging from the sadistic mobster, the homunculus girl, the couple of crime, the scaredy-cat thief, the red train assassin, the immortal kid, and more. A truly character-driven series that thrives off of all these players waltzing into each other's lives/stories, and stepping back to appreciate how their memorable interactions make them feel like one big, extended family. From your cousins you barely know to someone you can call your new adopted son. Without a shadow of a doubt: Isaac and Miria are simply _perfect._ Easily my favorite characters, to the point where the entire show could've been solely about them and I wouldn't complain one bit. How flamboyant they are, their quick thinking and improv-approach to life, their chemistry; if Baccano! were to have mascot characters, they'd rack up the title instantly. Ladd Russo is also incredible as the big, tough, sadistic killer, and him meeting his match with Claire simply left me breathless. Firo may have "obligatory cute anime best boy" written on his face, down to his design, but how he helps Ennis accept herself (in a predictable, but still very wholesome turn) gives him more purpose, though he's still otherwise a charming fellow to watch. I love Jacuzzi and his bravery, Graham makes for a enjoyable, exuberant blonde lackey, and I was entranced by Claire/Vino's presence. Though his proposal to Chane could've been developed better. I just can't buy that she'd fall for him that easily when he essentially throws himself at her and expects her to say yes on that train. Though it does work in the finale when she realizes there's people out there who care about her more than her father ever did. Other characters like the Gandors, Maiza, and even Dallas weren't as gripping for me (hell, the most I care out of Dallas is how much his sister Eve really misses him), but they're given just enough time so as to not feel wasted. The nonlinear storytelling is another feature of how Baccano! stands out from other series I've watched. This whole shebang kicked off in the 1700s when some alchemists summon a devil to bring them the elixir of life. And that gift of immortality becomes a center of conflict for those immortals remaining, and those who grab ahold of the elixir. With the true action centering around a train incident that brings plenty of these colorful characters together for escapades I can't describe other than swashbuckling. Pulling no punches as to how far they can push the body horror, and how hair-raising the stunts aboard the train are. And to conclude, I love how Carol and VP Gustav bookend the series. As the very first characters introduced, they serve more as plot framers to think on the nature of characters, stories, and why humans search for meaning. Some good ol' fashioned meta rumination. And by the end, they're placed expertly right before the ending montage as they discuss the nature of endings. To which Baccano! essentially replies with: stories never truly end, but that's what makes them more fun and interesting. And true to that, the final three episodes don't serve as much of a bombastic, loose-end tying ending the same way ep. 13 did. But rather, almost like any other episode that you'd expect from the show, except with maybe a bit more modest outlook on it. What you leave off with is a montage that neatly sends these characters off on their lives, while still letting the audience know of the ongoing quality to these characters we've followed. Which, upon thinking some more, keeps the series in line with having immortals as characters. Nothing truly ends, but neverenders aren't seen as a curse, either. But alas, the anime still ends. There's the light novels which are ongoing to my knowledge, but I like how ep. 16 has its cake and eats it. Nothing begins or ends, but you still have to start and stop somewhere. And yet somehow, Isaac & Miria end up immortal in 2001 New York. How? Pffff, I dunno. And frankly, I don't care. That fits like a glove for them. Blood, gore, trains, crime, jazz, death, mobsters, friends, magic, love, satisfaction.......Baccano!'s got you covered. I can never get over how someone thought up _Royal Pussyfoot_ and said, "yeah, that's a perfectly appropriate thing to call a train." Idk, I guess that was just the 30s. I only watched this because of our boi CDawg. Songs of the day: "XO" by Fall out Boy, and their album "Folie a Deux."